First Baptist brings spiritual message to Bonnaroo crowd

Members of McMinnville’s First Baptist Church are singing a different tune at Bonnaroo. Instead of rock ‘n roll lyrics, they are spreading the word of God from their church booth.
‘We have free water, free drinks and Jesus,’ said church member Chris Bouldin, who spearheaded the Bonnaroo booth. ‘We do a lot of mission projects, some even as far away as Brazil, and Bonnaroo is right here under our noses. This is something that was in my heart.’
About 25 people have volunteered to help, and Bouldin says they are working in six-person shifts. She says none of the volunteers had ever been to Bonnaroo before.
Bouldin says she realizes she gets a luke-warm response from some people who want the free drink, but not necessarily the message.
‘They tell me they have Jesus in their heart, but that’s just so they can come and get their drink and get me off their back,’ she said.
Bouldin was surprised by one girl who admitted she’s an atheist.
‘What can you say to someone like that, but you pray for them,’ said Bouldin.
The free drinks haven’t exactly endeared First Baptist Church members to other Bonnaroo vendors who charge exorbitant prices for soft drinks and bottled water.